An independent candidate in Mozambique’s election has called for a national strike if the ruling party wins

Venancio Mondlane, an independent presidential candidate, issued a threat on Friday to incite a nationwide strike and bring Mozambique to a halt if the governing party Frelimo were to claim victory in the presidential election.

Mondlane informed Reuters that he is in the lead following Wednesday’s election, as evidenced by the data collected by his delegates at polling stations. The preliminary results are anticipated to be released on Saturday, followed by the full, official results 15 days after the poll.

Since 1975, Frelimo has been in charge of the Southern African nation and has been accused of election manipulation, a charge that it vigorously denies. It is widely anticipated that Daniel Chapo, the candidate for the Frelimo party, will emerge victorious, succeeding President Filipe Nyusi, who is resigning.

Mondlane, who is well-liked by the country’s discontented youth, is regarded by analysts as the most significant challenge to the ruling party in recent years.

In an interview, Mondlane stated that the risks of violence are extremely high. He also stated that he did not condone violence and would challenge the outcome through nonviolent demonstrations and the courts if authorities declare a Frelimo victory.

“We will mobilize our population so that they do not accept the results,” according to him. “We are going to instigate an economic shutdown, a total shutdown of the country.”

A spokesperson for Frelimo stated that the party was anticipating the official results and that “Frelimo does not declare victory; that is a responsibility of the official election body.”

Some irregularities were reported, including the denial of access to election observers to observe the preliminary tallying.

After Frelimo won the municipal elections last year, isolated street protests occurred, but they were violently suppressed.

The capital, Maputo, was tranquil on Friday, with a few armed police officers stationed along the primary thoroughfares.

Mondlane declared that, in the event of his election, he would modify tax policy to allocate a greater portion of the revenue generated by multinational corporations, including ExxonMobil, to local development. He is also interested in increasing the availability of financing for youthful individuals who are starting businesses.

An Islamist insurgency has impeded the development of significant gas projects in the far north of the nation by both ExxonMobil and TotalEnergies. The conflict has resulted in the displacement of thousands of individuals.

Mondlane declared that he would engage in negotiations with the insurgent leaders and promote development in the restive Cabo Delgado province, which he claimed had been historically marginalized.

“It is not possible to have peace in Cabo Delgado excluding the insurgents,” according to him.